Folding coop.



Patented Nov. 4, |902. W. BIRD.

FOLDING COOP.

(Application led June 17, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

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Patented Nov. 4, |902.

No. l7|2,992.

W. BIRD.

FOLDING COOP. (Appxicim med .mue 17,` 1902.)

4 Sheets-Shui 2.

(No Model.)

YHE NORIS PETERS CO.. FNDTO-LITN., WASHlNGTON. DA C.

Patented Nov. ,4, |902.

4 Sheets Sheet 3.

W. BIRD.

FOLDING COOP.

(Application filed June 17, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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No. 7|2,992. Patented Nov. 4, |902.

W. BIRD. FoLmqcooP. (Application filed Junevl?, 190,2.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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NTE StrainsE ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BIRD, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent N o. 712,992, dated November 4, 1.902.

Application led June 17,1902l Serial No. 112,055. (No model.)

To" tZZ whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BIRD, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Coops, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My object is to construct an improved folding chicken-coop; and my invention consists of the novel features herein shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved folding chicken-coop. Fig. 2 is a top plan View. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chickencoop partly folded. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the chicken-coop unfolded. Fig. 5 is a cross-section ofthe chicken-coop folded. Fig. 6 is a side elevation with the partsA in their folded positions. Figi 7 is an enlarged sectional detail showing one of the sliding hingejoints connecting the top to one of the sides, the parts being broken away to economize space. ing the means of fastening the opposite side of the cover from the joint shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the bottom 10 is a rectangular board, and anglebars are placed along the edges of the bottom to form the side iianges 11 and the end flanges 12, the horizontal flanges of said angle-bars being embedded into the lower face of the bottorn and attached to the bottom. Hinges 13 are secured to the side flanges 11, and the side walls 14 and 15 are secured to the hinges 13. The side wall 14 consists of a lower bar 16, end bars 1'7, a top angle-bar 18, an intermediate bar 19, and the screen 20. The-side wall 15 consists of the lower bar 2l, formed in sections and connected together by hinges 13, end bars 22, the upper angle-bar 23, the pairs of guide-strips 24, and the screens 25. Vertical slots' 26 are cut from the lower edge of the angle-bar 23 to form extensions of the spaces between the guide-strips 24.

The cover 27 consists of the side bars 28, the end. bars 29, the twointermediate bars 30, connecting the side bars 28, the door-frame bars 31, connecting the intermediate bars 30, the door 32, closing the opening between the bars 31, and the screen Hinge-plates 34 are secured to one of the side pieces 28.

Fig. 8 is across-sectional detail show- 4 Necks 35 extend downwardly from the hingeplates through the slots 26, and heads 36 .upon

the inner ends of the necks hold the cover in position, thus forming a sliding hinge connection between the cover and the side wall 15. The side walls 14 and 15 fold inwardly with the inner edges of the angle-bars 18 and 23 resting upon the bottom, as shown in Fig. 5.

The necks 36 slide between the guide-bars 24,

thus allowing the cover 27 to occupy afolded position on top of the side pieces.

The end walls 37 consist of the vertical angle-bars 38, the lower horizontal bars 39, the upper horizontal bars 40, and the screens 41. The angle-bars 38 form the corner-pieces and are secured tothe ends of the side iianges 11 by bolts 42, so as to fold inwardly or toward each other, as shown in Fig. 6. The trans'- versely-extending Iianges of these angle-bars engage the end flanges 12 and form stops to keep the end walls from swinging outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. A Brackets 43 are secured to theinnerfacesofthebars40. Theshafts44are rotatably mountedin said brackets and extend outwardly through the bars 40. The crank- Adisks 45 are fixed upon the shafts 44, and the handle-plates 46 are iixed upon the outer ends of said shafts. The disk 45 is actuated by the rotation of plate 46 and handle 49. Bearings 47 are secured to the inner faces of the ends s of the bars 40, and latch-bars 48 are slidingly mounted in said bearings and pivotally connected to the crank-disks 45, so that the latchbars are operated to move out or in by the rotation ofvthe crank-disks, and the handles 49 are secured to the plates 46 for operating the latch-bars and for manipulating the chickencoop. Openings 50 are formed through the angle-bars 38 to receive the ends of the latchbars 48, and similar openings are formed ICO disks are rotated to lock the side and end walls together the fingers 53 pass upwardly through the openings 5l and downwardly through the openings 52 and secure the cover in position, as shown in Fig. l. The ears 54 extend upwardly from the side anges 11 and have openings 55 in their upper ends, so that when the chicken-coop is folded, as shown in Fig. 6, the latch-bars will pass through the openings 55 and lock the parts in their folded positions. Z-shaped brackets 5G are secured to the intermediate bars by the rivets 57 to form sockets to receive the inner edge of the angle-bar 18 and assist in holding the cover in position. An ordinary hook and eye 58 secures the door 32 in its closed position.

When the device is unfolded and set up for use, as shown in Fig. l, it is very strong and durable and at the same time thoroughly ventilated, light, and portable, and when the device is folded, as shown in Fig. G, it is compact and not easily damaged by handling.

The bottom of the coop is accessible by raising the top, and the device can be readily cleaned by the use of a scraper or hose or otherwise.

I claim- 1. A folding chicken-coop comprisingabottom; fianges extending upwardly from the bottom; side walls hinged to the side anges; a cover slidingly hinged to one of the side walls so that when the side walls are folded upon the bottom, the cover will fold on top of the side Walls end Walls hinged to the bottom; and means of locking the parts in their folded position; substantially as specified.

2. In afoldingchicken-coop,abottom; side walls hinged to the bottom; a cover slidingly hinged to one of the side walls; end walls hinged to the bottom; latch-bars mounted slidingly upon the end walls, and pivotally connected to a rotatable disk having hookshaped fingers to engage the cover, whereby upon the rotation of said disk, the cover, side and end walls are securely locked together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM BIRD.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIcKs, JAMES L. HOPKINS. 

